Take-off mechanism for match



May 21 1940. OO 2,201,343

TAKE-OFF MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed May 25, 1937- 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOOOGOSCG 00000 \D 000 0 0000 o 0 0000 0 000000 0 o 0 000000 0 0 0 0 q Q o 00 0 o oo 3 Q 00 0 0 o o 000 0 0 o 0 0 e000 0 00 0 0e 00 v 0 0000 a 00000 (-1000 0 00 00000000. 0000000 00 0 00 000000000 000000000 oooooo ooc lo 0 ll l was 000000000 000000000 000000F100 0 Jae 00000 0 9 0 (2Q 00 N 00 0" 000 I o 00 00 c 0 0 Y 00 e0 o 0 0 00 y I: o 0 30 0e 00 00:; 00000 0 J00: 000000000 00 000000000 00 0 a G0 0 000 00 0 0o 0 0 0 0 0 e 0 0 0 0 0 e a 0 0 0o 0 00 0 00 0 00 00 00 OQOGGL May 21, 194-0. E MOORE TAKE-OFF MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES- Filed May 25,v 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0000 V 0 0 00 000 0 00 b 0 0 00 U0 0 0 U 000 0 0 0000 G 0 000 000 00 00 000 00 00 000 0 00 000 0 00 000 0 00 0000 0 May 21, 1940. MOORE 2,201,343

TAKE-OFF MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed May 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IHIIH 33 00v) 3:) 00 a 00 b o N G I.

o u u o u 00 u 60am us 00 U0 00 000 wooed so 00-) Y I so one uuuwu 009006000 00006 H Q0 s39 n @9009 000000900 uwuO' I 0d 006 503 96666 V ea 00 0O 6E6 0v) U\-. :2 as a Q 00 u D C m 9 u I o N 1 \J O Q Q g o o "'u as u D L- r mm 000:. N 0o 00 ow emcee Uduu so see DUUUU 900000000 00690 3 3O CGG 9300s owoooooa wow 0 0.3 sec @000 n00 Q IQQ ovum I so ECG 00 on r n- 0 a (G )0 '3 F) u C a 9 9 u u 'a 00 e H v: 0 v60 a @0000 000000000 u :ooaoo oeooooooe Ow moeoo 000000006 new 0000 000000000 oubli) F. MOORE 2,201,343

TAKE-OFF MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed May 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 21, 194-00 v F. MOORE TAKE-OFF MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed May 25, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES TAKE-OFF MECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES Franklin Moore, Oshkosh, Wis.

Application May 25, 1937, Serial No. 144,583

8 Claims.

This invention relates to continuous match making machines and more particularly to improved match take-off mechanism for use in connection therewith.

The principal object of the invention is to provide simple and eificient mechanism whereby the matches as they are rapidly discharged row by row from the carrier of a match machine are progressively deposited and arranged Within the take-off trough in superposed substantially parallel rows and at the same time are advanced, in bulk, in an orderly manner to the delivery portion of the trough.

With this object in view, and others which will appear, my invention comprises novel features of construction and combinations of parts which in a preferred form will be hereinafter described; the scope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a form of take-off mechanism embodying my invention, showing the relation of the mechanism to the discharge station of a match machine.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the match trough, as on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of portions of the trough and match carrier, showing a part of the punch head for ejecting the succeeding rows of matches from the carrier and indicating the action of a rOW of matches in the carrier upon the matches in the trough as such row approaches the punch-out level.

Figs. 6 and '7 are similar sections through the trough and adjuncts, as on the lines 6-6 and 'll, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional perspective of the trough and take-off mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, I0 designates a portion of the delivery end of the travelling carrier of a continuous match making machine, which carrier in the form illustrated comprises a multiplicity of suitably perforated plates linked together in endless series; I I designates a horizontal row of reciprocating spaced punches by means of which the completed matches are ejected row by row from the plates during the progression of the carrier, and I2 designates a vibratable take-off trough extending transversely of the carrier and below the level of the punches, which trough receives the discharged matches in substantial parallelism and advances them therealong in an orderly manner to the delivery end of the trough, thence discharging the matches into a packing or box filling apparatus. The trough, which rests upon basal supports I3,

is rapidly vibrated by any suitable means, that shown comprising the usual adjustable eccentric and slide block connection whereof the eccentric M is mounted on a power driven shaft I5.

According to the principle of my invention the matches which are delivered to and contained in the portion of the trough that is located at and transversely of the match carrier are yieldingly supported in such manner that the uppermost row of matches are at or in close proximity to the punch out level to the end that each succeeding row of matches is ejected from the carrier directly against and is sustained by such upper row, thus insuring minimum disarrangement of the matches in the trough. In the construction illustrated the yielding match support within the trough is constituted by a vertically resilient longitudinally extending bed which inclines downwardly from the receiving to the dischargingend of the trough, or substantially so. This bed comprises upper and lower end sections 16 and I1, respectively, and a longer connecting section [8 therebetween, the whole presenting a substantially uninterrupted upper surface for the support of the matches. The section I6 at the higher end of the bed constitutes, in effect, a lever which is composed of a relatively short normally inclined plate whereof the lower end is fastened to a transverse rockshaft l9 having its hearings in the side walls of the trough, and whereof the higher end is provided adjacent the outer or right-hand edge of the match carrier with an upstanding leg 20 terminating in an angular arm 2|. This arm 2| is resiliently supported in any suitable manner in order to maintain the adjacent end of the lever section It relatively near to the punch-out level of the match machine, such supporting means in the present instance consisting of a tension spring 22 which depends from a suitablylocated fixture on the frame of the machine, and which spring is attached at its lower end to the arm 2|. The upper end of the intermediate section I8 is loosely supported by the rockshaft i9, and its lower end has spliced thereto the section ll, which latter section is preferably of spring metal and has its free end resting upon the floor of the trough.

One end of the rock-shaft I!) has fixed thereto an upstanding arm 23 which is pivotally connected by means of a link 24 to a crank-arm 25 fast on a rock-shaft 28 which is journaled in a pair of up-standing arms 21 that are secured to the side walls of the trough adjacent its delivery end. Hence if the shaft 9 be oscillated, by vertical actuation of the lever section it, the motion will be transmitted to the shaft 26, as will presently appear. The latter shaft has fastened thereto a clamp member 210 to which is secured the inner or upper'end of a longitudinal rod 28 which centrally overhangs the lower plate section H and normally inclines downwardly to and upon such section, and which rod partakes of the arcuate movement imparted to the shaft 26 through its crank and link connection with the shaft l9. This rod 28 constitutes an egress governing means for the matches at the delivery end of the trough. Loose on the shaft 26 are two pendant plates 29 which flank the clamp member 27!] and which plates support between them the lower end of a central rod 30 that inclines upwardly to a position in proximity to the match carrier, terminating in an upwardly curved portion 3! which is supported and guided in the slotted curved foot 32 of an angulated fixture 33. This fixture is adjustably fastened to a bracket 34 which is bolted to the machine frame adjacent the match carrier. The upper portion of the rod 3!] extends freely through the perforated head 35 of a set-screw 3B which is threaded in the cross-bar 31 of a saddle member, whereof the legs are suitably attached to the respective sides of the trough, as at 38. It will be seen that by longitudinally adjusting the setscrew 36 in its support the upper end of the rod 30 can be raised and lowered to regulate the space between such rod and the plate section l'l, thus providing a throat of determined size for the passage of matches to the delivery end of the trough.

The upper or right hand, end of the lever section 86 has secured thereto adjacent the perforated area of the carrier the foot of an upstanding spring plate 39 which slidably bears against a fixture Ml which is supported similarly to the fixture 33 at the left-hand side of the carrier, thus providing a vertical end wall or barrier for the matches imposed on the section l6 irrespective of the varying angularity of the latter. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)

The operation of the foregoing described trough and dropping upon the inclined supporting bed. The-punches are carried by the usual cam-operated reciprocating punch head. The bodily vibration of the trough causes the matches therein to roll down the inclined bed and against the opposing egress rod 28, which rod at this juncture is in down or closing position at the delivery end of the trough. The continued vibration of the trough causes the succeeding rows of matches which are discharged from the carrier and deposited in the trough to crowd down in bulk until the match level within the trough in the region of the match carrier is raised to or about the level of the punches, whereupon downward pressure is exerted on the opposing upper matches in the trough by the advancement of the carrier to present a new row of matches to the path of the punches. As the flow of matches down 'the inclined bed has been checked by the egress rod 28, the downward pressure of each succeeding row of matches borne by the carrier increases and progressively overcomes the tension of the spring 22 until the upper end of the lever section is is depressed, as seen in Fig. 3. The matches on being expelled from the carrier by the punches, do not hitthe ends of thematches previously positioned on the lever l6, because each succeeding row of downivardly moving matches, endwise held in the carrier, impinges upon and presses down the opposing matches thus positioned before each row is expelled by the punches. Since the inner end of this section it is secured to the shaft ill, a slight clockwise motion of the shaft is effected, thus by virtue of the link and crank connection producing a corresponding movement of the arm 25, the link 2d being drawn to the right and the arm 25 and its shaft 26 being moved therewith. Such movement of the arm 25 graduallyraiscs the egress rod 233 as the matches pass thereunder, thus permitting the matches in increasing quantitles to escape from the trough till the rod 28 reaches its fully open position in substantial parallelism with the spring plate section ll, which condition obtains during the ensuing-om eration of the match machine.

If during the operation of the machine the downward pressure of the matches on the supporting bed should become too great to be controlled bythe spring sustained lever section It, the pitch of the bed will be increased by virtue of the resulting depression of a greater length of the resilient end section i'l. This will greatly enlarge the exit passage constituted by the space between the section ll and the overhanging rod 28, thus allowing a quick escape of surplus matches, whereupon the bed will automatically resume its normal operating pitch.

It will be seen that the matches contained in the vibrating trough are held in closely packed the trough, thus reducing the spill heretofore r occasioned by crossed splints.

It will also be seen that the movement of the lever section It in opposition to the action of the spring 22 is efficiently attained by the downward pressure of each succeeding row of supported matches in the match carrier as such row approaches and reaches the punch out level, thus ensuring a practically constant but light upward pressure of the lever section and the mass of matches superposed thereon; that each row of matches being punched out of the carrier is held between the next following row in the carrier and the top row in the trough, so that in their discharge from the carrier very few matches may be disarranged or driven hard against the outer wall of the trough, and that by virtue of the contact of the rigidly held matches in the carrier with the uppermost matches in the vibrating trough, the latter matches are rotated so as to remove the fuzz from the splints and usual partition carrying take-oil chain with its attendant liability to disarrange the matches in the trough when the partitions in their return travel from the matches are leaving the trough.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanism may be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. In take-off mechanism for a match machine having a travelling carrier for succeeding parallel rows of matches, and means for discharging the matches horizontally row by row from said carrier, a vibrating match-receiving trough extending transversely of the carrier, a member normally inclined within and longitudinally of the receiving end of the trough, resilient means for retaining the upper end of said member elevated to maintain said member in inclined position, means connecting the lower portion of said member to the trough whereby said member has capacity for vertical movement in a path below the match discharge level, and whereby as the rows of matches are moved in succession to the action of the said discharging means such matches exert downward pressure upon the preceding uppermost rows on said member, thus progressively depressing the underlying matches and said member, egress governing means for the delivery end of the trough, said governing means supported by the trough, and operative connection between said governing means and said member.

2. In take-off mechanism for a match machine having a travelling carrier for succeeding parallel rows of matches, and means for discharging the matches horizontally row by row from said carrier, a vibrating match-receiving trough extending transversely of the carrier, a member normally inclined within and longitudinally of the receiving end of the trough, resilient means for retaining the upper end of said member elevated to maintain said member in inclined position, means connecting the lower portion of said member to the trough whereby said member has capacity for vertical movement in a path below the match discharge level, and whereby as the rows of matches are moved in succession to the action of the said discharging means such matches exert downward pressure upon the preceding uppermost rows on said member, thus progressively depressing the underlying matches and said member, egress governing means for the delivery end of the trough, said governing means supported by the trough, operative connection between said governing means and said member, a throat member pivotally connected to the trough adjacent to the said governing means, and means for vertically adjusting said throat member in relation to the trough.

3. In take-ofi mechanism for a match machine having a travelling carrier for succeeding parallel rows of matches, and means for discharging the matches horizontally row by row from said carrier, a vibrating match-receiving trough extending transversely of the carrier, a match supporting element normally inclined within and longitudinally of said trough and effective to feed the matches from the receiving to the delivery end of the trough, said element including an upper section within the receiving end of the trough, a connection between the inner end of said section and the trough and a spring connection between the opposite end of said section and the trough, whereby said section has capacity for vertical movement in a path below the match discharge level, egress governing means for the delivery end of the trough, said governing means supported by the trough, and operative connection between said governing means and said upper section.

4:. In take-oh mechanism for a match machine having a travelling carrier for succeeding parallel rows of matches, and means for discharging the matches horizontally row by row from said carrier, a vibrating match-receiving trough extending transversely of the carrier, a normally inclined match supporting element mounted within and longitudinally of said trough and efiective to feed the matches from the receiving to the delivery end of the trough, a connection between the trough and said supporting element, said element comprising a series of sections including an upper section arranged to support at the receiving end of the trough each succeeding uppermost row of the matches delivered to the trough, a resilient lower section resting on the floor of the trough, and an intermediate connecting section, the whole presenting an uninterrupted inclined match supporting surface, a spring normally sustaining said upper section in such position that the uppermost matches thereon lie substantially at the discharge level of the match machine, whereby as the rows of matches borne by the carrier move in succession to the action of the discharging means such matches exert downward pressure upon the preceding uppermost rows in the trough and thereby progressively depress the underlying matches and the spring sustained supporting section therefor, egress governing means for the delivery end of the trough, said governing means supported by the trough, and operative connection between said governing means and said upper section at the point of said connection between the trough and the element.

5. In take-off mechanism for a match machine having a travelling carrier for succeeding parallel rows of matches, and means for discharging the matches horizontally row by row from said carrier, a vibrating match-receiving trough extending transversely of the carrier, a normally inclined match supporting element mounted within and longitudinally of said trough and including an upper control section pivotally supported by the receiving end of the trough, a spring tending normally to maintain said section in raised position and with the uppermost matches thereon located at a level substantially at the discharge level of the match machine, egress governing means for the delivery end of the trough, said governing means supported by the trough, and operative connection between said governing means and the said control section.

6. In take-off mechanism for a match machine having a travelling carrier for succeeding parallel rows of matches, andmeans for discharging the matches horizontally row by row from said carrier, a vibrating match-receiving trough extending transversely of the carrier, a normally inclined element supported by and mounted within and longitudinally of said trough and ineluding an upper control section pivotally supported at the receiving end of the trough, a spring in cooperating relation to the upper end of said control section and tending normally to maintain said section in raised position and with the uppermost matches on said section located at a level substantially at the discharge level of the match machine, a throat member connected to said trough and overhanging the lower portion of said element, an egress governing member also overhanging said element below the throat member, said governing member supported by the trough, and operative connection between said governing member and the said control section.

'7. In take-01f mechanism for a match machine lower portion of said control member is secured,

said shaft supported by the trough, a spring in cooperating relation to the upper portion of said control member and tending to maintain said section normally in raised position and with the uppermost matches on said section located substantially at the discharge level of the match machine, a throat member overhanging the lower portion of said element, an egress governing member also overhanging said element below the throat member, a rock-shaft mounted on the trough and supporting said egress member, and a crank and link connection between the two rock-shafts.

8. In take-off mechanism for a match machine having a travelling carrier for succeeding parallel rows of matches, and means for discharging the matches horizontally row by row from said carrier, a vibrating match-receiving trough extending transversely of the carrier, and a normally inclined match supporting element mounted within and longitudinally of said trough, said element comprising a series of sections including an upper section arranged to support at the receiving end of the trough each succeeding uppermost row of matches delivered to the trough, a lower spring section resting on the floor of the trough and an intermediate connecting section, a rock-shaft to which the lower end of the upper section is secured and upon which shaft the upper end of the intermediate section is loosely supported, said rock shaft supported by the trough, a spring in cooperating relation to the upperportion of said upper section and tending to maintain said upper section normally in raised position and with the uppermost matches on said upper section located substantially at the discharge level of the match machine, a throat member overhanging the lower portion of said intermediate section, an egress governing member overhanging the lower spring section, said governing member supported by the trough, and operative connection between said governing member and the said upper section.

FRANKLIN MOORE. 

